Bring on the wide-brimmed hats, secure some seersucker, and bust out the bright colors for an evening at the horse races to support Darlington School at the 2015 Purple Tie Affair. Enjoy premium silent auction offerings and a delicious southern spread at its finest, as you support the important work of the parent organizations at Darlington.
Darlington will host the annual Purple Tie Affair on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 6 p.m. in the Huffman Athletic Center’s Van Es Arena. The theme of this year's one-school fundraiser is "A Night at the Races," and all current parents, faculty and staff, and alumni are invited to attend and wear their best steeplechase and derby-appropriate attire.
Admission to the event is $50 per person, and includes dinner and an open bar. All proceeds raised from the evening will benefit ELA-8 and Upper School Tiger PRIDE, the Athletic Booster Club and the Fine Arts Booster Club.
"We are so excited about this year's Purple Tie Affair. We have received so much support from our community and have some amazing silent auction items already in hand," said Amie Sabourin, auction co-chairperson. "We will feature a set of braces, a weekend in Vegas, a trip to Chicago or a cabin in the mountains, and these are just a few items up for grabs. We have a pavement-pounding procurement team in action, and we're preparing a night you don't want to miss!"
The grand prize for this year's Reverse Raffle is $10,000 cash or tuition credit for your oldest child up to $18,000 (to be used in one school year). Second prize is $2,000 cash. Each raffle ticket is $100, and is available from Athletic Booster Club delegates, the Admission Office, at Thatcher Hall and online. Only 350 raffle tickets will be sold.
Patrons will start their dining experience with a crisp romaine salad with select locally-sourced toppings and sweet chive vinaigrette and ranch dressing. An upscale southern-themed hot buffet will be the centerpiece of this year's dinner, and will include a mouthwatering spread of pulled BBQ pork and chicken, mint julep salad, maple and sorghum-roasted sweet potato coins, and late summer roasted vegetables. Another highlight of the buffet will be a southern baked cheddar grit bar. Delicious warm buttered biscuits and rolls will complete the main course.
Attendees will have their choice of a savory selection of desserts like petite strawberry cream cake, bourbon balls, flour-less chocolate tarts with Guinness caramel sauce, and chocolate French toast with bourbon chocolate syrup and roasted Bing cherries.
An open bar is included in the price of each Purple Tie Affair ticket and will feature classic standards as well as refreshing themed beverages.
Holders of a VIP ticket will also enjoy tasty hors d'oeuvres served table-side including black-eyed peas, jalapeño fritters with mango sauce, warm pimento cheese and candied applewood smoked bacon in pastry tart shells, and fig and blue cheese crostinis.
Those interested in donating items to the silent auction can contact Diane Roberson at diroberson@hotmail.com or Amie Sabourin at amiesabourin@hotmail.com.
Reserved Table - $400
Includes table for 8
VIP Table - $800
Includes table for 8 plus priority seating during dinner, specialty drinks and appetizers served table-side, and recognition in the program.
